Area’s roads wind in and out of past

Originally published in the Valley Daily News, June 20, 1989

By Mike Archbold

Bob Eaton at work restoring the Black Diamond Museum’s caboose.

Nearly four years as city editor at the Valley Daily News has meant living the immediate world around me mostly through the telephone and staff reporters. Such a vicarious existence wears thin and when the chance came to jump back into the real world, I took it eagerly.

So with reporter notebook back in hand and a tank full of gas, I headed out on the roads and highways of Valley Daily News country for a perimeter run, just to get the feel and the look of the place, to talk to people, perhaps to find a good cup of coffee.

I almost didn’t make it off the Valley floor in Kent—not for any mechanical problem, but because Frager Road along the west side of the Green River steals resolve on a warm spring afternoon. Off the West Valley Highway near Willis Street, this two-lane blacktop slow weaves north, past six-foot-high weeds marking the river’s course. The Valley’s pace slows here along Al Duris’ strawberry field, where the rich soil yields food rather than concrete and warehouses.

Read Full Post »

Meet the boats: Practice spins begin for 1979 Cedar races

Originally published in the Voice of the Valley, March 7, 1979

Watch their spray – Evie Noird and Deney Johnson

What would Maple Valley Day be without the Cedar River boat races?

Perhaps better than staying at home, no doubt, but it would be lacking in excitement, uniqueness, and tradition.

But have no fear. The boats are again splashing down the Cedar in practice spins for the men’s and women’s Cedar River Boat Races to be held on June 2.

In this series of articles, meet the boats and racers from winners down to the rookies.

Read Full Post »

Where Diamond Briquets are made

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, March 2, 1928

Nestled back against the green hills which form the southern shores of Lake Washington and adjoining the boulevard which circles the lake, is the site of the Pacific Coast Coal Company’s Diamond Briquet plant. Here an average of about 500 tons of Diamond Briquets are turned out daily to meet the demands of satisfied consumers from Alaska to California.

Read Full Post »

Ready for frost

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, February 24, 1928

Demonstrating the ease with which Diamond Briquets are handled in orchard heating. Thousands of these heaters will soon again be placed in readiness to effectively combat the ravages of killing frost in the deciduous orchards of the Pacific Northwest.

Read Full Post »

Hosts to purchasing agents

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, February 3, 1928

Recently the Pacific Coast Coal Company enjoyed the privilege of a visit from some eighty-five members of the Purchasing Agents’ Association of Washington, who spent an entire half day inspecting the New Black Diamond Mine. That everyone in the party might be given the fullest possible information about the high quality of the coal produced and the careful methods of preparing it for the market, a corps of the company’s salesmen and officials accompanied the purchasing agents.

Those in the above group include: Top row—A.W. Wilslund, W.A. Wilson, F.W. Barnes, Thomas M. Reeder. Middle row—C.O. Hilen, Val Georgeson, William Claussen, Malcolm McPhee, R.W. Smith. Lower row—Harry Scranton, A.E. Holden, L.W. Norman, and Wylie Hemphill.

Read Full Post »

Service feature sells coal

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, January 27, 1928

Marking a distinctively new departure in coal merchandising, the Pacific Coast Coal Company has established a free fuel service for its customers. A service car, distinctive with a mammoth Diamond Briquet mounted back of the driver’s seat, advertises the fact that prompt service is now at the disposal of every user of Pacific Coast coals.

This move is designed to still further reduce the cost of coal to the consumer by providing him with the advice and aid of a combustion expert, who will examine furnaces and flues free of cost and at the same time analyze home-heating problems. Mr. Robt. McNeice is the fuel expert in service.

Read Full Post »

Modern facilities for coaling

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, January 13, 1928

Ocean steamers from the trade lanes of the seven seas always find quick dispatch at the marine bunkers of the Pacific Coast Coal Company in Seattle. At ebb tide the depth of the water in the slips is ample for the largest vessels afloat, and with a constant supply of coal readily available from the mines just outside the city limits, the facilities for bunkering ships are a distinct advantage to commerce.

With the advent of pulverized coal as a fuel for deep-sea carriers, the Pacific Coast Coal Company is prepared to supply any demand.

Read Full Post »

Happy and prosperous year

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, January 6, 1928

That 1928 may be a Happy and Prosperous year for you is the wish of the Bulletin.

Read Full Post »

Yuletide greeting

Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, December 23, 1927

With the universal Yuletide greeting ringing in our ears at this season, it is both a pleasure and a privilege to extend through the Bulletin, a personal word to each member of the Pacific Coast family.

Christmas is a time of good cheer, and therefore it is appropriate that we all lend our efforts toward bringing happiness and brighter days to those less fortunate. In doing this we can all sincerely join in the season’s salutation — “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

—E.C. Ward.

Read Full Post »

Growing up in Hobart: From a baby to a teenager

Originally published in the MVHS Bugle, March 2001

By George “Pokey” Sidebotham

Iver Iverson, Sr. purchased William Wood’s interest in this Red and White Market in 1940 and ran the store and post office with his son, Iver Iverson, Jr.

By the time I was born, Hobart was a busy town. My dad was a clerk at the Hobart general store, owned by Wood & Iverson, who also owned the sawmill and logging. It was called the “Wood & Iverson Red & White Store.” They sold everything a logger/stump rancher/sawmill worker/coal miner would want to raise a family—shoes, clothes, groceries, tires, hay, grain, fishing tackle.

There was a big wooden grease rack with ramps to run your car up on, a small container under the rack to store oil, etc. for cars. There was one gas pump—it held about 10 gallons of gas. You hand-pumped the gas to the storage tank. Then it had a hose and nozzle to put gas in your car, but that’s the way they did it then. “Wood” died, so it was then “Iverson’s,” as I remember.

Read Full Post »